Plate-cutting machine and the like

ABSTRACT

A machine for cutting patterns in a plate member comprising a self-propelled member with spaced wheel means thereon, track means for guiding said wheel means, said base member carrying adjustable bar means with a pair of cutting means disposed on the ends of said bar means for cutting a pattern in a plate member and the like in accordance with a master pattern.

United States Patent [111 3,614,078

[72] Inventor Ralph M. Hepler 1,162,587 1l/l915 Eimann 266/23 B 239 Pennsylvania Ave. West, Warren, Pa. 2,283,347 5/1942 Young..... 266/23 K 16365 2,403,514 7/1946 Frangen 266/23 K [21] Appl No. 869,200 2,474,153 6/1949 Livesay 266/23 K [22] Filed Oct. 24, 1969 2,493,033 1/1950 Russell et al 266/23 K [45] Patented Primary Examiner-Gerald A, Dost AttorneyBerman, Davidson & Berman [54] PLATE-CUTTING MACHINE AND THE LIKE 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 266/23 K [51] 823k 7/10 ABSTRACT: A machine for cutting patterns in a plate [50] Field of Search 266/23 R, member comprising a m u member with Spaced 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 N wheel means thereon, track means for guiding said wheel 5 6] References Cited means, said base member carrying ad ustable bar means with a pair of cutting means disposed on the ends of said bar means UNITED STATES PATENTS for cutting a pattern in a plate member and the like in ac- 974,798 11/1910 Jacoby et a1. 266/23 R cordance with a master pattern.

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' I INVIu'N'I'OIt. p44 PH M HEPA E PLATE-CUTTING MACHINE AND THE LIKE The present invention relates to a machine for causing movement of a plurality of cutting torches along a predetermined pattern and more particularly to a circle-cutting machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact, rugged, heavy-duty machine for causing a pair of cutting torches to move precisely along a predetermined selected path. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cutting machine that utilizes a pair of cutting torches disposed on the ends of bar means with means for precisely adjusting the torch means so that they will cut a circle in a substantially horizontal plane and will also cut through a vertically disposed cylinder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a guided cutting machine having a pair of adjustable cutter members on opposite ends of elongated bar means so that the two cutter members are used to cut a circle in a plate member in half the time normally taken to make such a out.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a machine that can be utilized with a pair of cutting members disposed on opposite ends of bar means as well as a pair of welding head members, if desired, in order to reduce the time required to cut a circle in a plate or to weld a circular plate to another piece of material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cutting machine having a pair of cutting members that can cut in a circle and which can be radially adjusted so as to cut a circle of larger or smaller diameter.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cutting machine having a pair of adjustable cutting members disposed on the opposite ends thereof so that the cutting members will simultaneously cut a circle and reduce the cutting time by one-half or more, and which machine further is designed to prevent fouling of hose in power cables utilized with cutting torches.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cutting machine embodying the present invention when it is used to cut a circle in a flat plate,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cutting machine of the present invention illustrated cutting a vertically disposed cylindrical member in half,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a front view of the selfpropelled base member and adjustable wheel members of the cutting machine embodied in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed fragmentary view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 6 when looking at it from the right side,

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the lines 88 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the groove arrangement in the master pattern member utilized with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designated the cutting machine of the present invention which is provided with a self-propelled base member 12 that is commercially available on the open market and has an electric motor therein which drives a wheel 14. The base member is provided with electrical cables indicated at 16 which are connected to a source of power. The base member is provided with inwardly spaced wheels 22 and 24 also adapted to ride in V-shaped grooves 18 in the master pattern.

The wheels 22 and 24 are adjustable with respect to the wheel 14 to provide automatic adjustment of the powered base member in different diameters of the die grooves 18 and the master pattern plate 20. This is necessary due to changes of radius for different size master patterns. Without this adjustment the wheels would bind in the grooves. The V-shaped grooves will allow dirt to fall below the wheel and maintain friction for driving and guidance.

The wheels .22 and 24 are adjusted by being disposed on a substantially L-shaped bar member 26, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. The wheels are secured to the bar members by any suitable means and the elongated portion 28 of the L -shaped member 26 extends through a slotted lug 30 having a setscrew 32 so that the elongated portion 28 may be moved laterally of the base member 12 to any desired position and the setscrew 32 tightened against the elongated portion when it is properly adjusted in its predetermined position. The lug member 30 is secured by any suitable means to a forwardly projecting portion 34 secured to the front of the base member 12.

The base member 12 has a vertical post for support column 36 extending upwardly therefrom to which is secured a. retainer member 38. The retainer member has an adjustable radius arm or bar 40 extending therethrough and further has an adjusting knob secured thereto and adapted to mesh with the plurality of teeth 44 on the radius arm which is a rack member, and may be moved radially inwardly or outwardly in a conventional member by turning the adjusting knob 42, thereby varying the distance that the inner end 46 of the rack is away from the base member 12. The retainer member 38 is rigidly attached to the post 36 by a bolt member 50.

The inner end 46 of the rack on 40 is provided with a sleeve 52 secured thereto through which extends another radius arm 54 which is also a rack. The rack 54 is rigidly connected to the sleeve 52 by any suitable means such as a bolt member at its midpoint or center so that the opposite ends 56 and 58 of the rack 54 extend equal distances from the sleeve 52.

The opposite ends of the rack 54 are provided with retainer members 60 through which the rack members may be moved by the adjusting knobs 62, to move acetylene cutting torches 64, carried thereby, as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, inwardly or outwardly along the rack member 54.

The torches 64 are secured by any suitable means to rack members 66 which pass through a retainer member 68 having an adjusting knob 70 thereon, as best seen in-FIGSfl, 2 and 6. The retainer member 68 is provided with a bar 72 which is secured to a split sleeve 74. The split sleeve 74 in turn is rigidly secured by any suitable means to the retainer member 60. The turning of the adjusting knob 70 willpermit the rack 66 and the cutting torches 64 to be adjusted in a vertical direction upwardly or downwardly as desired. The acetylene torches 64 are provided with flexible supply lines shown in dotted lines and indicated at 76, which have a portion thereof supported by the support member 78, and which extend to a source of supply not shown.

The provision of the split ring or sleeve 74 and the bar 72 extending therethrough permit the rack 66 and the cutting torches 64 secured thereto to be swiveled or turned in a horizontal direction if desired.

In operation, when it is desired to cut a circle in a metal plate, indicated by the dash lines in FIG. 1, the master pattern member 20 is disposed in proper position around the piece of metal to be cut, which piece of metal is indicated at 82, and the cutters 64 are positioned in their proper cutting location by tuming the adjusting knob 42 and the adjusting knobs 62 and the adjusting knobs 70 to a predetermined selected position. Thereafter, the base member 12 is actuated by its motor so that it will travel in the V-shaped grooves 18 in a circle at which time both of the cutting torches 64 will be making a circular cut in the piece of material so that the complete cutting operation is done in half of the normal time, and a precision cut is made in the metal. 7

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in this embodiment of the invention, a vertically disposed metal cylinder 84 is being cut. In this embodiment of the invention, the rack 54 is provided with retainer members 86 each having an adjustable knob 88 so that the retainer members 86 can be moved inwardly and outwardly along the rack 54 as desired.

secured thereto by an suitable means, which retainer members are provided with an adjusting knob 98. The retainer members 96 have rack members 100, similar to the rack members 66, passing therethrough and the rack members 100 have acetylene torches 102 secured thereto by any suitable means, which torches are similar to the torches 64.

In this embodiment of the invention, the adjusting knobs are turned so as to properly position the racks in a predetermined location so that the torches 102 are positioned adjacent the outer surface of the cylinder 84 to make a cut therein. Thereafter, the base member 12 is actuated so that the torches will move as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 3 to make a clean swift cut in half the time normally utilized to make a circular cut in a cylinder member.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides a compact and efiicient and highly adjustable cutting machine, which can further be used with welding torches if desires to efficiently cut circular plates members or to cut cylinders or to cut in a predetermined selected pattern as desired.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that modification in the arrangement of the parts of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited except in accordance with the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In a machine for cutting or welding a workpiece in a circular path, the combination with a master pattern member, formed as a flat annulus lying in a horizontal plane and pro vided with track means, the central opening of said annulus being adapted to surround the portion of a workpiece upon which cutting or welding is to be performed, of a selfpropelled carriage whose movement is guided by said track means, an upstanding post on said carriage, a first bar extending horizontally inwardly over the central opening of said annulus and detachably and adjustably supported by said upstanding post, a horizontal second bar adjustably supported by the inner end portion of said first bar to lie diametrically of the intended circular work path, and means for adjustably connecting a pair of torches to the end portions of said second bar.

2. The combination of claim I, wherein said first bar is disposed radially of the central opening of the annulus and said second bar is disposed perpendicular to the second bar.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said means for adjustably connecting the pair of torches includes means for adjusting each torch longitudinally of said second bar and vertically with respect thereto.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said track means comprises a pair of circular grooves and said carriage has wheels which ride in said grooves.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said wheels have means for adjustment of their spacing for grooves of different diameters.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said grooves are V- shaped and said wheels have substantially rectangular cross sections fitting only partly into the grooves.

7. The combination of claim 3, wherein said means for adjustably connecting the pair of torches includes swivel means for swinging the torches from vertical to horizontal positions.

8. The combination of claim 1, wherein third and fourth horizontal bars are adjustably supported at the end portions of the second bar and extending inwardly of said annulus parallel to said first bar, said means for connecting the pair of torches bein disposed at the inner ends of said third and fourth bars.

9. e combination of claim 8, wherein said first, second,

third and fourth bars are rack members and are adjustably supported by means of meshing pinions including operating knobs.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said means for connecting the pair of torches include rack means, meshing pinions and operating knobs for adjustably moving said torches horizontally and perpendicularly with respect to the third and fourth bars. 

1. In a machine for cutting or welding a workpiece in a circular path, the combination with a master pattern member, formed as a flat annulus lying in a horizontal plane and provided with track means, the central opening of said annulus being adapted to surround the portion of a workpiece upon which cutting or welding is to be performed, of a self-propelled carriage whose movement is guided by said track means, an upstanding post on said carriage, a first bar extending horizontally inwardly over the central opening of said annulus and detachably and adjustably supported by said upstanding post, a horizontal second bar adjustably supported by the inner end portion of said first bar to lie diametrically of the intended circular work path, and means for adjustably connecting a pair of torches to the end portions of said second bar.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first bar is disposed radially of the central opening of the annulus and said second bar is disposed perpendicular to the second bar.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said means for adjustably coNnecting the pair of torches includes means for adjusting each torch longitudinally of said second bar and vertically with respect thereto.
 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said track means comprises a pair of circular grooves and said carriage has wheels which ride in said grooves.
 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said wheels have means for adjustment of their spacing for grooves of different diameters.
 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said grooves are V-shaped and said wheels have substantially rectangular cross sections fitting only partly into the grooves.
 7. The combination of claim 3, wherein said means for adjustably connecting the pair of torches includes swivel means for swinging the torches from vertical to horizontal positions.
 8. The combination of claim 1, wherein third and fourth horizontal bars are adjustably supported at the end portions of the second bar and extending inwardly of said annulus parallel to said first bar, said means for connecting the pair of torches being disposed at the inner ends of said third and fourth bars.
 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein said first, second, third and fourth bars are rack members and are adjustably supported by means of meshing pinions including operating knobs.
 10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said means for connecting the pair of torches include rack means, meshing pinions and operating knobs for adjustably moving said torches horizontally and perpendicularly with respect to the third and fourth bars. 